Nearing the front entrance to Longbourn Lizzy could not help feeling surrounded by her agony. With Caroline swiftly approaching from the rear and Mr. Darcy smouldering inside Lizzy wished she could escape her destiny.
She knew of course that once she made it to the door she would have to go in and once inside she would have to confront the situation that she had helped to fashion.
How imprudent she had been to believe the lies weaved about Mr. Darcy. How she wished she could go back to the night of Lady Catherine's visit.
Today might have been so different, Lizzy thought. Today she could have been a bride as well, she could have stood next to Jane, and she would have been the new Mrs. Darcy walking towards Longbourn.
With her hand on the door Lizzy endured and pushed through the threshold, thus entering into the celebration of her most treasured sister.
She had hoped to go in undetected by the guests, and in doing so escape the attention of a certain individual, but Lizzy knew that her wish would not be granted.
Once inside Lizzy immediately set out to purge herself of the horrid Miss Bingley. Walking by Kitty and Maria Lucas, Lizzy dared not to ruin their amusement by interrupting their conversation with the Colonel and Mrs. Forster.
Seeing her chance at last she made her way to her mother, who was talking with, or more so at Lady Lucas.
As she drew closer to her mother Miss Bingley relented in her chase, and for the first time since leaving for the church service that morning a hint of relief began to form on Lizzy's face.
"I am so delighted. I knew she could not be so beautiful for nothing!" Mrs. Bennet cooed to her neighbour. "Now she will be the mistress of such a grand house and I do hope she helps her sisters in their pursuits. I cannot tell you what a burden it has been on my mind trying to match the remaining girls."
Lizzy now stood next to her mother all the while surveying the room for any signs of Mr. Darcy. For the moment the coast was clear and Lizzy breathed a sigh of relief.
"Mama, where is Jane?"
"Lizzy there you are! Where have you been child?" Mrs. Bennet continued without waiting for a reply. "Never mind girl, go upstairs and help your sister prepare to take her leave, Hill is with her but she is needed in the kitchens!"
Mrs. Bennet turned away from her daughter and began to report to Lady Lucas the intricacies of Netherfield Hall and the number of new servants Jane would have at her disposal.
Lizzy turned and once again surveyed the occupants of the room.
Mr. Darcy and the groom were nowhere to be seen. On the other hand Miss Bingley and her sister Mrs. Hurst were watching Lizzy suspiciously as she crossed the room.
Lizzy could feel the two honourable ladies' sets of eyes burrowing into the back of her head as she made her way to the foyer.
Once in the hallway Lizzy began to make her way to the staircase. Taking the first two steps Lizzy stopped abruptly and turned towards the faint voices coming from the front entryway. She knew instantly that it was him. It was Mr. Darcy, talking to, presumably the groom, Mr. Bingley.
Hesitantly Lizzy retreated down the steps she had already climbed and inched her way to the closed front door.
Lizzy thanked the heavens above that no one was there to witness her trek to the door. Standing in silent curiosity Lizzy placed her ear up against the closed door.
Yes, it was the great gentlemen talking, and by the clues Lizzy received from behind the door it seemed as if Mr. Bingley was quite frustrated.
Pushing her ear closer to the door, Lizzy could make out why Mr. Bingley was so disturbed.
Their private conversation focused on the fact that Mr. Darcy was leaving. From the faint sentences Lizzy could make out Mr. Bingley was desperately attempting to keep his friend from departing.
"Come Darcy, your business in town can wait a day or two." Mr. Bingley implored. "If not a day stay until the wedding celebration is over."
"Charles I must beg your leave. My business cannot wait; I must away to London immediately." Darcy continued, cutting off Mr. Bingley's reply. "Offer my sincere apologizes to Mrs. Bingley, and remind her that I will see you both at Pemberley for Christmas."
"Darcy I still do not understand your urgency, just this morning you suggested you were in no hurry to return to town."
Mr. Darcy's voice became fainter through the door as if he was walking away from his friend and towards the pathway. "Bingley I must away, I will see you soon enough."
Lizzy stood, ear against the door, and could hear with melancholy Mr. Bingley end the conversation.
"Two months is a long span of time Darcy, but I will convey to Jane that you aim to rectify your absence with a ball at Pemberley."
"Yes, a Christmas ball. I will see you then." Darcy could be heard saying as he made his way further and further away from the closed door, from Longbourn, and from Lizzy.